SOLD GIBSON COLLECTOR’S CHOICE # 37 “CARMELITA” # 49

Collector’s Choice #37 1959 Les Paul “Carmelita”
Handcrafted to True Historic Specifications
Introducing a True Historic Replica of one of the guitar collector world’s most celebrated Les Pauls. One look at “Carmelita” and it’s easy to see why the most passionate admirers of original vintage Gibsons have followed her history from the contiguous United Sates to the Islands of Hawaii and back. Even through multiple nickname changes, as each new owner chose to personalize their ownership, Carmelita, as she’s referred to by her current, anonymous co-owners, is instantly recognizable for her wide, lush flame, near perfect cherry sunburst finish, and a trademark “Claw” (a pattern of three finger-wide flames in “the gut,” as one current owner describes it) in her figured top. Throughout her known history, she’s been called “The Claw”, the “Hawaii ‘Burst” and “Carmelita”. By any name, original ser# 9 1953 is visually breath-taking and sonically 100% ’59 Les Paul. Gibson Custom was afforded access to Carmelita in order to craft a Collector’s Choice run and worked in close collaboration with her two current owners to insure the final outcome allows a few fortunate players and collectors around the world to experience the beauty, playability and tone of the original. Each is rendered to True Historic Specifications, Gibson Custom’s intricately detailed replica-level parts and process spec that goes beyond visual and sonic details and into a deeper level of craft than any other reissue guitar ever offered. These details include a double-carved top and neck profile, hand-sanding throughout (to retain original carve integrity); re-formulated butyrate knobs; multi-laminate plastics made from original formula materials, and a long list of features that bring this Collector’s Choice Les Paul as close to an original as is humanly and currently possible. Carmelita will be re-created in a limited run based on the very specific nature of the top flame and, as such, will be made in a final quantity determined by the availability of materials. While the maximum run is set to 300, it remains highly unlikely that this number will be achieved.

Body

Top
Back
Top
Wood Species: Figured Maple
Pieces: 2
Binding: Single Bound, True Historic Reissue Cream
Back
Wood Species: Mahogany
Pieces: 1
Binding: Top Only
Weight
Weight Relief: None
Average Weight (body only): 3.175 kg / 7.0 lbs average
Materials Used
Glue: Hand Applied Hide Glue
Tonal, Resonant, and/or Technical Effect: Hand selected backs for lightweight
Body Contour
Carve: Original 1959 Les Paul

Neck

Neck
Wood Species: Mahogany
Pieces: 1
Details
Truss Rod: Historic Reissue-No Tubing
Profile: 1959 Les Paul
Thickness at Fret 1: 2.26 cm /.900″
Thickness at Fret 12: 2.54 cm / 1.0″
Average Weight: .453592 kg / 1.25 lbs
Peg Head
Type: 1959 True Historic Thin Head Veneer
Inlay: Pearl
Peg Head Binding: None
Silkscreen: “Les Paul”
Headstock Angle: 17 Degrees
Tonal, Resonant, and/or Technical Effect: Holly head veneer has been re-tooled, reproducing the original thinner specification of the late 1950’s
Neck Fit
Joint Angle: 4 Degrees
Type: Reissue
Adhesive: Hot Hide Glue
Gauges Used: Pitch and Alignment Gauge
Nut
Style: 6/6
Material: Nylon
Width: 4.28 cm / 1.687″
Slots: E: .13716 cm / 0.054″
A: .10414 cm / 0.041″
D: .04826 cm / 0.019″
G: .0381 cm / 0.015″ 
B: .03556 cm / 0.014″ 

e: .03048 cm / 0.012″
Fingerboard
Wood Species: Solid Indian Rosewood
Pieces: 1
Fingerboard Details
Radius: 30.38 cm / 12″
Frets: 22
Nut/End of Board: 4.28498 cm / 1.687″ @ nut, 5.6896 cm / 2.24″ @ end of board
Scale: 62.865 cm / 24.75″
Binding: .040 True Historic Reissue Cream
Side Dots (Color): Tortoise Shell
Fingerboard Inlays
Style: Trapezoid
Material: Aged Nitrocellulose
Dimensions: 2.921 cm x 1.7018 cm / 1.150 x .670″
Average Weight: .75 lbs / .340194 kg

Finishes

Carmelita Burst
Color Code: SB
Surface Texture: Hand Aged, True Historic, Wet-Sanded, Thin Lacquer Finish
Filler: Vintage Brown
Sealer: Nitro Cellulose
Top Coat: Nitro Cellulose
Scraped: True Historic Process To Preserve Soft Neck Binding Profile and Body Binding Ledge

Electronics

Pickups Rhythm Lead
Style: Burst Bucker Burstbucker
Winds/Coil: Screw side/Slug side: 5500-5750 5500-5750
Material of Wire (gauge): #42 Enamel #42 Enamel
Coil Dimensions (per coil): 6.6294 cm x 1.7272 cm x .9525 cm / 2.61 x.68 x .375″ 6.6294 cm x 1.7272 cm x .9525 cm / 2.61 x.68 x .375″
Coil Material: ABS ABS
Coil Winding Process: Machine Wound Machine Wound
Pole Piece Material: 416 Grade Stainless Steel 416 Grade Stainless Steel
Pole Piece Position from Nut: 59.7 cm / 23.5″ 59.7 cm / 23.5″
Slug Material: 416 Grade Stainless Steel 416 Grade Stainless Steel
Slug Dimensions (diameter x length): 47.3075 cm / 18.625″ 47.3075 cm / 18.625″
Magnet Material: Alnico III Alnico III
Magnet Position from Nut: 58.36 cm / 22.975″ 58.36 cm / 22.975″
Magnet Dimensions: 6.35 cm x 1.27 cm x .3175 cm / 2.5 x .5 x .125″ 6.35 cm x 1.27 cm x .3175 cm / 2.5 x .5 x .125″
Cover: True Historic Replica VOS Nickel True Historic Replica VOS Nickel
Qfactor: 8.0k 8.5k


Hardware

Tuning Keys
Style: Reissue Kluson Deluxe Green Keys, Single Band
Material: Nickel Plated Steel
Weight: 3.6 oz
Tuning Keys Details
Tuning Ratio: 12:01
Gear Type: Closed
What is allowable turn: 1/4
Plating specs: Nickel Plated Stamped Steel
Part numbers: 130-430-14889/90
String Dimensions
E: .11684 cm / .046W
A: .09144 cm / .036W
D: .06604 cm / .026W
G: .04318 cm / .017P
B: .03302 cm / .013P
e: .0254 cm / .010P
Bridge
Style: ABR With Thumbwheels
Material: Aged Nickel Plated
Plating Specs: Zinc Surrounded by a die casting alloy for casting flow-Nickel Plated
Part number: 130-430-10161
Weight: .0637 kg / 2.25 oz.
Dimensions of String Slots
E: 0.1778 cm / 0.070″
A: 0.13716 cm / 0.054″
D: 0.1016 cm / 0.040″
G: 0.0635 cm / 0.025″
B: 0.0508 cm / 0.02″
e: 0.0381 cm / 0.015″
Tailpiece
Style: Aged Reissue Lightweight Aluminum
Compensated: No
Material: Aluminum
Plating Specs: Aged Nickel
Part number: 130-430-11738
Weight: .0311845 kg / 1.1 oz
Output Jack
Style: 1/4″
Jack Plate
Style: 59 True Historic
Material: Single Laminate Acrylic
Part Number: 130-430-19299C
Weight: .0056699 kg / .2 oz
Strap Buttons
Material: Aluminum
Plating Specs: None
Part numbers: 130-430-19150
Weight: .0141748 kg / .5 oz

Plastics

Pick Guard
Style: 59 True Historic-Mulit-Laminate Acrylic
Part Number: 130-430-12768
Truss Rod Cover
Style: True Historic
Part Number: 130-430-19784
Knobs
Style: True Historic Butyrate Gold Top Hats
Part Number: 130-430-19778V
Dial Pointers
Yes/No: Yes
Control Plate(s) (Backplate Cover)
Style: Reissue Les Paul .09 Black Royalite
Part Number: 130-430-19808
Control Plate(s) (SwitchPlate Cover)
Style: 2016 Die Cast Collector’s Choice Medallion
Part Number: 130-430-19016
Switch Washer
Style: True Historic Cream Single Layer Acrylic
Part Number: 130-430-19292C
Trim Rings
Style: True Historic Cream Replica w/Tool Marks
Part Number: 130-430-13891V/130-430-13892V

Accessories

Case
Style: Aged Reissue Les Paul
Color: Aged and Lacquered Reissue Brown with Pink Fur Lining
Strap Locks: None
Tools: None
Manual: None
COA/Other: Custom Shop True Historic Certificate of Authenticity in Binder, Extra Black Plastic Treble/Rhythm Switch Cover Plate